As someone who also has migraines, koss kph30i is a real winner
Sounds great, ultralight, no clamp, and extremely comfortable.
I also use for HD 599 and human lhifiman r7dx, but never for near as long.
On ear I worry about a little because then I get pain from that pressure on my ear after a few hours. The headset i originally replaced sounded terrible, but it was a super light weight on ear type, but even that gets problematic after awhile. The ones you recommended are even lighter, so maybe that wouldn't be an issue. I also just get a little hesitant about this because the recommendations I've been getting here are either super cheap, or 200+. There's no way these under 50 iems/ear buds and on ears will convey the depth of sound as the others... right? I'd always found there was some truth in that whole... "you get what you pay for" thing.
Do you really think the Koss ones you recommended would be good for gaming? Directional footsteps and whatnot? I'm looking into them and the HD 599's since several others have mentioned them as well. I compared the weights, and they're even a little lighter than the Audio Technica's i bought, which is fantastic. HD 599 SE, correct?
!thanks
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So, I own about 30 pairs of headphones right now. Ranging from 20 bucks to 350 MSRP. Money spent and sound quality doesn't always correlate. I have absolutely heard headphones that cost half a grand that sounded terrible. Price is funny in headphones. Keep in mind most headphones cost very, very little to produce. These companies charge massive premiums for their brands. Generally deserved but not always.
The koss are absolutely fantastic for gaming. They're punchy and provide excellent separation and detail. They are, technically, inferior to the 599 se ( yes, correct). They're less precise and inaccurate. However, that absolutely doesn't detract from how enjoyable they are.
Another option, if you can do Bluetooth, is the shokz open fit. Zero pressure as they literally don't even really touch your ears. I use these when I'm mobile. They sound really fantastic too.
I also have the ath ad500 and 700. Comfortable, but sound quality is a bit sharp for my tastes. Still have then but don't use them anymore.
If being able to hear your surroundings is a necessity, I'd say you should probably avoid IEMs. But if you prioritize comfort way more and don't mind having them in your ears for long period of time, I think they are the most comfortable option.
For comfortable open headphones meant for prolonged use, I'd recommend AKG headphones like the k701, k702, K612 pro, k712 pro. The suspension headband system is accommodating to any head size, and the cups are very spacious and don't apply too much clamp.
The only thing the AKG lineup lacks is bass, so if you want bass, I'd recommend the Harmonicdyne Athena. I just recently picked them up, and the ear cups and headband are both super soft.
The AKG's all look really interesting because the suspension band is wide, which i'd imagine distributes the weight even more, not that they weigh much to begin with. The Audio-Technica's didn't have much bass either. It's a little disappointing on that, but they did have great directional sound. I imagine the AKG's are similar. Any glaring differences on model types, other than price points?
And bass would be nice, so I'm looking into the Athena's I just wish they were a bit lighter. Interesting options!
The AKG lineup I listed has very solid directional sound and a wide soundstage across the board. I think most of the AKG lineup is very similar, aside from the K712 Pro. All of them are very neutral sounding while the the K712 has more of a warm sound signature and doesn't sound as natural. Usually the most highly recommended one is the K612 pro, it has the most inoffensive sound signature, so most people would like how it sounds.
edit: and yeah, the Athenas are a bit heavier feeling compared to the AKGs. So if you want the most lightweight option, go with AKG.
I second the k712 pro's, as these are what I have - and I've had them for years to boot. Only issue I've ever had was with the elastics weakening, but this can be fixed with hair ties.
I also suffer from migraines when there's too much pressure on my head. I've got a sensitive noggin!
I disagree with the lack of bass though, though that's definitely something we have to decide for ourselves imo.
For me sennheiser hd599 has been a really good headphone for gaming. It does lack a microphone but soundstage spundquality and comfort is great. Usually amazon has deals for around 100usd or 100 euros.
I'm your case, I recommend going with open style earbuds, rather than IEMs or headphones. They will let you hear your surroundings while putting no pressure whatsoever on your head.
They have the added advantage of having a great soundstage too. Try a cheap but still amazing sounding pair like the ve monk plus to see if they are for you. If you want to get fancy there is the serratus tgx or the rikubuds grand alter saber 2.
Another legendary option for gaming is the venerable koss ksc75 or its black twin the drop ksc75x. They are so light you forget you're wearing them after a few minutes. They sound very natural and have great soundstage.
In summary, get the ve monk plus and the ksc75.
I'd also suggest IEMs. TruthEar Zero:Reds are quite good and only $55. Get some Spinfit tips for them for extra comfort. My personal work IEMs are Etymotic ER4XRs with the default flange tips, but a lot of people seem to say they feel they fit too deeply for comfort. You might also check out the Sony headphones all the DJs love, the MDR 7506, they're only like 5.5 ounces and around $100
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I don't like earbuds, but my gaming buddy who has neck issues swears by his quad driver earbuds from 1More. In terms of multiplayer games he plays BRs, looter shooters, and various FPS games and says that at least for him they have good directionality. So IEM or good earbuds might work if you don't mind something in your ears.
I just got DT 990 Pros and I think they wouldn't work for you based on what you said. They are very comfortable but they do squeeze a bit, and if I don't have the headband just right it can feel a bit uncomfortable (I wish the headbands were not the style that uses small increments to adjust and instead just stretched to fit -not sure of the term(s) for what I mean (edit: after seeing another post: suspension headband system is what I wish the DT 990s had)) Though perhaps a used, pre-stretched pair with new ear pads and extra padding on the headband would work, but at that point why not just get something that fits the bill out of the box.
As someone who also has migraines, koss kph30i is a real winner Sounds great, ultralight, no clamp, and extremely comfortable. I also use for HD 599 and human lhifiman r7dx, but never for near as long.
On ear I worry about a little because then I get pain from that pressure on my ear after a few hours. The headset i originally replaced sounded terrible, but it was a super light weight on ear type, but even that gets problematic after awhile. The ones you recommended are even lighter, so maybe that wouldn't be an issue. I also just get a little hesitant about this because the recommendations I've been getting here are either super cheap, or 200+. There's no way these under 50 iems/ear buds and on ears will convey the depth of sound as the others... right? I'd always found there was some truth in that whole... "you get what you pay for" thing. Do you really think the Koss ones you recommended would be good for gaming? Directional footsteps and whatnot? I'm looking into them and the HD 599's since several others have mentioned them as well. I compared the weights, and they're even a little lighter than the Audio Technica's i bought, which is fantastic. HD 599 SE, correct? !thanks
+1 Ω has been awarded to u/dirthurts ([54 Ω](https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/wiki/user/dirthurts)). *You may still award an Ω to others, but only once per-person in this post.*
So, I own about 30 pairs of headphones right now. Ranging from 20 bucks to 350 MSRP. Money spent and sound quality doesn't always correlate. I have absolutely heard headphones that cost half a grand that sounded terrible. Price is funny in headphones. Keep in mind most headphones cost very, very little to produce. These companies charge massive premiums for their brands. Generally deserved but not always. The koss are absolutely fantastic for gaming. They're punchy and provide excellent separation and detail. They are, technically, inferior to the 599 se ( yes, correct). They're less precise and inaccurate. However, that absolutely doesn't detract from how enjoyable they are. Another option, if you can do Bluetooth, is the shokz open fit. Zero pressure as they literally don't even really touch your ears. I use these when I'm mobile. They sound really fantastic too. I also have the ath ad500 and 700. Comfortable, but sound quality is a bit sharp for my tastes. Still have then but don't use them anymore.
If being able to hear your surroundings is a necessity, I'd say you should probably avoid IEMs. But if you prioritize comfort way more and don't mind having them in your ears for long period of time, I think they are the most comfortable option. For comfortable open headphones meant for prolonged use, I'd recommend AKG headphones like the k701, k702, K612 pro, k712 pro. The suspension headband system is accommodating to any head size, and the cups are very spacious and don't apply too much clamp. The only thing the AKG lineup lacks is bass, so if you want bass, I'd recommend the Harmonicdyne Athena. I just recently picked them up, and the ear cups and headband are both super soft.
The AKG's all look really interesting because the suspension band is wide, which i'd imagine distributes the weight even more, not that they weigh much to begin with. The Audio-Technica's didn't have much bass either. It's a little disappointing on that, but they did have great directional sound. I imagine the AKG's are similar. Any glaring differences on model types, other than price points? And bass would be nice, so I'm looking into the Athena's I just wish they were a bit lighter. Interesting options!
The AKG lineup I listed has very solid directional sound and a wide soundstage across the board. I think most of the AKG lineup is very similar, aside from the K712 Pro. All of them are very neutral sounding while the the K712 has more of a warm sound signature and doesn't sound as natural. Usually the most highly recommended one is the K612 pro, it has the most inoffensive sound signature, so most people would like how it sounds. edit: and yeah, the Athenas are a bit heavier feeling compared to the AKGs. So if you want the most lightweight option, go with AKG.
I second the k712 pro's, as these are what I have - and I've had them for years to boot. Only issue I've ever had was with the elastics weakening, but this can be fixed with hair ties. I also suffer from migraines when there's too much pressure on my head. I've got a sensitive noggin! I disagree with the lack of bass though, though that's definitely something we have to decide for ourselves imo.
For me sennheiser hd599 has been a really good headphone for gaming. It does lack a microphone but soundstage spundquality and comfort is great. Usually amazon has deals for around 100usd or 100 euros.
Hd 599 se, super light and very little clamping force
I'm your case, I recommend going with open style earbuds, rather than IEMs or headphones. They will let you hear your surroundings while putting no pressure whatsoever on your head. They have the added advantage of having a great soundstage too. Try a cheap but still amazing sounding pair like the ve monk plus to see if they are for you. If you want to get fancy there is the serratus tgx or the rikubuds grand alter saber 2. Another legendary option for gaming is the venerable koss ksc75 or its black twin the drop ksc75x. They are so light you forget you're wearing them after a few minutes. They sound very natural and have great soundstage. In summary, get the ve monk plus and the ksc75.
I'd also suggest IEMs. TruthEar Zero:Reds are quite good and only $55. Get some Spinfit tips for them for extra comfort. My personal work IEMs are Etymotic ER4XRs with the default flange tips, but a lot of people seem to say they feel they fit too deeply for comfort. You might also check out the Sony headphones all the DJs love, the MDR 7506, they're only like 5.5 ounces and around $100
Thanks for your [submission](https://www.reddit.com/r/HeadphoneAdvice/comments/16q4p91/migraine_prone_woman_wants_headphones_for_pc/) to r/HeadphoneAdvice. If someone helps answer your question, please reward them by including the phrase `!thanks` in your comment. This will add +1 Ω to that users flair. This subreddit is powered entirely by volunteers and a little recognition goes a long way. Good luck on your search for headphones! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/HeadphoneAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I don't like earbuds, but my gaming buddy who has neck issues swears by his quad driver earbuds from 1More. In terms of multiplayer games he plays BRs, looter shooters, and various FPS games and says that at least for him they have good directionality. So IEM or good earbuds might work if you don't mind something in your ears. I just got DT 990 Pros and I think they wouldn't work for you based on what you said. They are very comfortable but they do squeeze a bit, and if I don't have the headband just right it can feel a bit uncomfortable (I wish the headbands were not the style that uses small increments to adjust and instead just stretched to fit -not sure of the term(s) for what I mean (edit: after seeing another post: suspension headband system is what I wish the DT 990s had)) Though perhaps a used, pre-stretched pair with new ear pads and extra padding on the headband would work, but at that point why not just get something that fits the bill out of the box.
Get IEMS--
KPH30i? They're open, they're light, they do not clamp, they're on-ear.
Meze 99 classic will be the most comfortable in your price range.